Pusher game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pusher game apparatus provides at least one jackpot detecting section which detects a disk dropped from a guiding means. The stroke of reciprocation of the pusher is changed according to whether or not the disk is detected by the jackpot detecting section, thereby varying the maximum number of medals which can be acquired. Accordingly, the pusher game apparatus can provide the game with unexpectedness, giving much stronger impact on players.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a so-called pusher game apparatus.

2. Related Background Art

Pusher game apparatus refers to a kind of game apparatus in which apusher slidably reciprocating on a game board pushes medals into achute, so that some medals are dispensed to a player. Conventionally, inthis kind of pusher game apparatus, the pusher has a constant stroke,thereby limiting the maximum number of medals dropped into the chute.Accordingly, the game has been lacking unexpectedness, giving a weakimpact on players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing circumstances, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a pusher game apparatus which can change the strokeof the pusher so as to make the maximum number of acquirable medalsvariable, thereby yielding unexpectedness in terms of game and giving astrong impact on players.

The pusher game apparatus of the present invention comprises:

a disk insertion slot into which a disk is inserted;

a guiding means for guiding downwardly the disk inserted into the diskinsertion slot;

a game board disposed substantially horizontally below the guiding meansso as to receive the disk dropped from the guiding means;

a discharging means disposed on at least one end side of the game boardfor discharging the disk out of the pusher game apparatus;

a pusher disposed slidably on the game board and movable reciprocallytoward and away from the one end of the game board;

at least one jackpot detecting section for detecting the disk droppedfrom the guiding means;

a control means for selecting a stroke of the pusher based on adetection signal transmitted from the jackpot detecting section upondetecting the disk and for transmitting a control signal based on thusselected stroke; and

a driving means for driving the pusher capable of changing thereciprocal stroke of the pusher based on the control signal from thecontrol means.

In the present invention, when the medal is detected by the jackpotdetecting section, the maximum number of medals being dropped changesaccording to the difference in strokes. For example, in cases where thestroke is made greater when the medal is detected by the jackpotdetecting section than when not detected, thereby a larger number ofmedals are expected to be acquired.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which aregiven by way of illustration only and are not to be considered aslimiting the present invention.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a pusher game apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pusher game apparatusin FIG. 1 taken on a plane orthogonal to its guiding board and gameboard;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the relationship between a jackpotdetecting section, a pusher driving section, a control circuit, and anelevator mechanism driving section;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are perspective views showing strokes of a pusher incases where bonuses are provided and not;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are process drawings showing an operation forsupplementing medals; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a method of playing the pusher gameapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, a pusher game apparatus in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference todrawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the pusher game apparatus inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 2 isa vertical cross-sectional view of the main part thereof. In thesedrawings, substantially horizontally fixed to the inside of a main body1 of the pusher game apparatus is a game board 2, on which a number ofdisks such as medals 4 are placed. Formed on the front side (on the leftside in FIG. 2) is a chute 6 as a discharging means for receiving themedals 4 dropped from the game board 2 and discharging the medals 4 fromthe main body 1 of the pusher game apparatus. Mounted on the uppersurface of the game board 2 is a pusher 8 which is reciprocated backwardand forward by a pusher driving section 40 while in contact with thegame board 2 thereunder. In the following, the front side in FIG. 1 isreferred to as "front" side, whereas the side opposite thereto isreferred to as "rear" side. Disposed on a side part of the game board 2is a medal supplement mechanism 51 which will be explained later.

Formed in the upper portion of the main body 1 of the pusher gameapparatus is a medal insertion slot 12 into which the medals 4 areinserted. Attached to the medal insertion slot 12 is a guiding path 14extending downward in zigzag. Below the guiding path 14, a guiding board16 for guiding the medals 4 downward is disposed vertically with respectto the pusher 8. On the front face of the guiding board 16, a number ofpins 18 for hitting the medals 4 are disposed at appropriate intervals.Also, as shown in FIG. 2, disposed at the lower end of the guiding board16 is a stopper 20 with which the pusher 8 is slidably in contact suchthat, when the pusher 8 retracts, the medals 4 on the pusher 8 arepushed toward the front end portion thereof. Disposed in parallel to andin front of the guiding board 16 is a transparent plate 22, againstwhich the medals 4 can securely descend along the guiding board 16 andthrough which a player can observe with eyes how the medals 4 descend.

In the guiding board 16, disposed are jackpot detecting sections 24 forproviding the player with bonuses when the medals 4 come into contacttherewith. Attached to each jackpot detecting section 24 is amicroswitch 26 including a switch main body 30, which is supported by acarrier 28 on the rear side of the guiding board 16, and an actuator 32disposed thereon. The tip of the actuator 32, i.e., jackpot detectingsection 24, projects through an opening 33 from the rear side of theguiding board 16 such that the inserted medals 4 come into contacttherewith while descending. Also, in this embodiment, a display board 34is attached to the transparent plate 22 so as to indicate the positionof the jackpot detecting sections 24 while making the mechanisms of thejackpot detecting sections 24 themselves invisible to the player.

Used as the microswitch 26 in this case is of normally-open type.Namely, the microswitch 26 maintains its off state in cases where theinserted medals 4 do not come into contact with its correspondingjackpot detecting section 24 while descending, whereas it is turned onwhen any medal 4 comes into contact with the jackpot detecting section24. When the microswitch 26 is turned on, a detection signal istransmitted to a control circuit (control means) 38 which, for example,comprises a microcomputer. From this detection signal, the kind ofjackpot detecting sections 24 is judged. The control circuit 38 selectsan appropriate signal based on this judgment and transmits thus selectedsignal to the pusher driving section 40 for driving the pusher 8. Usedas the pusher driving section 40 in this embodiment is a variable stroketype linear motor (not depicted) which can change the stroke ofreciprocation of the pusher 8 in response to the control signal. Thislinear motor includes a linear rail and a movable member which can moveon this rail. The pusher 8 is moved by way of a shaft 41 attached to themovable member.

In the following, the operational control of the pusher driving section40 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A to 4C. FIG. 3is a block diagram showing the control system of the pusher drivingsection 40, whereas FIGS. 4A to 4C are perspective views showing strokesof the pusher 8 when bonuses are provided and not provided. As shown inFIG. 3, the display board 34 indicates three numbers of "1", "2" and"3". These numbers correspond to the respective jackpot detectingsections 24 and, in this embodiment, further correspond to "small hit","medium hit" and "big hit", respectively.

When the medal 4 is not detected by the jackpot detecting sections 24,no detection signal is obtained from the jackpot detecting sections 24,whereby the pusher 8 reciprocates with a stroke indicated by an arrow 44in FIG. 4A. Here, the front end portion of the pusher 8 reciprocatesbetween the position of "A" and the position of a broken line 42 in thedrawing. The position of the broken line 42 corresponds to the front endportion of the pusher 8 when retracted to the maximum, regardless ofwhether medals are detected or not.

In cases where the medal 4 is detected by the jackpot detecting section24, for example, with "1", the detection signal is transmitted to thecontrol circuit 38, and a control signal including information about"small hit" is transmitted from the control circuit 38 to the pusherdriving section 40. In this case, the pusher 8 reciprocates with astroke indicated by an arrow 46 shown in FIG. 4B, such that the frontend portion thereof moves to the position of "B" which is locatedfurther in front of "A". The stroke in this case is greater than that inthe cases where no medal 4 is detected by the jackpot detecting sections24. This difference in strokes becomes a bonus to the player. Also, whenthe medal 4 is detected with "3", the detection signal thereof istransmitted to the control circuit 38, and a control signal includinginformation about "big hit" is transmitted from the control circuit 38to the pusher driving section 40. Here, the pusher 8 is moved till thefront end portion thereof coincides with the front end portion of thegame board 2 as shown in FIG. 4C, i.e., moved to the position of "C"depicted therein, whereby all the medals 4 placed on the game board 2drop into the chute 6. In this case, the pusher 8 is moved with a strokeindicated by an arrow 48 depicted therein. When the medal 4 is detectedwith "2", the detection signal thereof is transmitted to the controlcircuit 38, and a control signal including information about "mediumhit" is transmitted from the control circuit 38 to the pusher drivingsection 40. Here, the pusher 8 is moved such that its stroke becomesgreater than that of "small hit" but smaller than that of "big hit."

Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4A to 4C, messagelamps 50 for jackpots and a speaker (not depicted) are disposed on aside portion of the game board 2 or the like. When the medals 4 aredetected by the jackpot detecting sections 24, the message lamps 50blink fast for a predetermined time, while a message sound is outputfrom the speaker. The blinking rate of the message lamps 50, music fromthe speaker, and the like may be selected according to the kind ofjackpot detecting sections 24.

As the player is provided with bonuses mentioned above, the number ofthe medals 4 on the game board 2 decreases. Therefore, in the presentinvention, the medal supplement mechanism 51 for supplementing themedals 4 on the game board 2 is disposed. This medal supplementmechanism 51 is disposed within or around the game board 2. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the medal supplement mechanism 51 includes a pocket 52for accumulating the dropped medals 4, an elevator rod 54 which isdisposed within the pocket 52 as an elevator mechanism, and a slantplate 56 which is disposed at the upper end of the elevator rod 54 andis adapted to return the medals 4 which have dropped into the pocket 52to the game board 2. The elevator mechanism can be constituted, forexample, by a known mechanism comprising a motor, a pulley, and a belt,or a known mechanism using a solenoid. The elevator mechanism includinga motor, a pulley, and a belt is useful for returning the medals 4 ontothe game board 2 in a long period of time; whereas the elevatormechanism using a solenoid is useful for returning the medals 4 onto thegame board 2 by ejecting them at once therefrom. The slant plate 56 hasan angle of inclination by which the medals 4 accumulated thereonnaturally slide down toward the game board 2 and which is specificallydetermined by the weight and material of the medals 4, material of theslant plate 56, and the like. Also, the slant plate 56 is adapted to bemoved up till the lower end portion thereof becomes as high as the gameboard 2.

In the following, the process of supplementing the medals 4 will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIG. 5A shows a state before the medals 4 are supplemented, in which theslant plate 56 is retracted to the inside of the pocket 52. Accordingly,when the medals 4 drop into the pocket 52, a predetermined amount ofmedals 4 are accumulated. Also, since the slant plate 56 is inclined,these medals 4 are accumulated while leaning against a side wall 57.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when the slant plate 56 is moved up by the elevatorrod 54 of the elevator mechanism while the medals 4 are accumulatedthereon, the elevator rod 56 stops at a point where the lower endportion of the slant plate 56 becomes as high as the game board 2,whereby the medals 4 are supplied onto the game board 2.

This medal supplement mechanism 51 is actuated when the medals 4 aredetected by the jackpot detecting sections 24, and not actuated when thelatter are not detected. The operational control thereof is performedsimilarly to that of the above-mentioned pusher 8. Specifically, asshown in FIG. 3, when the medals 4 are detected by one of the jackpotdetecting sections 24, a detection signal is transmitted to the controlcircuit 38. Then, a control signal is transmitted from the controlcircuit 38 to an elevator mechanism driving section 58, whereby theelevator mechanism is driven. As a result, the medals 4 are supplementedonto the game board 2. Preferably, the control signal for driving themedal supplement mechanism 51 so as to supplement the medals 4 when thenumber of the medals 4 on the game board 2 decreases is transmittedlater than the control signal for driving the pusher 8.

By means of the medal supplement mechanism 51, substantially the samenumber of medals are constantly kept on the game board 2 withoutdecreasing in excess. Also, as the medals 4 are supplemented, new sceneand development can be generated in the game, whereby the player cancontinuously play and further enjoy the game.

Based on the foregoing construction and operation, a method of playingthe pusher game apparatus in accordance with the present invention willbe explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 6.

Before starting the game, the pusher game apparatus is in a normaloperation state in which the pusher 8 constantly reciprocates with itsminimum stroke, i.e., stroke indicated in FIG. 4A.

When the medal 4 is inserted into the pusher game apparatus from themedal insertion slot 12 in this normal operation state (step 101), thismedal 4 is guided downward by way of the zigzag guiding path 14 and thepins 18. The jackpot detecting sections 24 are disposed in thedescending path of the medal 4, whereby it is judged whether or not themedal 4 is detected by the jackpot detecting sections 24. When the medal4 is not detected by the jackpot detecting sections 24, the pusher gameapparatus keeps its normal operation state, whereby the pusher 8continues to reciprocate with the minimum stroke. By contrast, when themedal 4 is detected by one of the jackpot detecting sections 24, adetection signal is transmitted to the control circuit 38 (step 102).Based on this detection signal, the kind of jackpot detecting section 24is judged by the control circuit 38 (step 103). According to thisjudgment, a control signal including information about "stroke" istransmitted from the control circuit 38 to the pusher driving section40. Based on this control signal, the pusher 8 is moved with a strokegreater than that of its reciprocation when no medal is detected by thejackpot detecting sections 24 (step 104). Subsequently, based on theabove-mentioned detection signal, a control signal is transmitted fromthe control circuit 38 to the elevator mechanism driving section 58,whereby the medals 4 are supplemented onto the game board 2 on the basisof this control signal (step 105). When the game is to be continuedthereafter, the medal 4 is further inserted into the apparatus;otherwise the game is terminated (step 106).

Though an embodiment of the present invention is explained in theforegoing, the present invention should not be restricted thereto. Forexample, the above-mentioned embodiment refers to a pusher gameapparatus of a type in which the medals 4 entering the chute 6 aredirectly dispensed to the player. Nevertheless, without being directlydispensed, the medals 4 may be accumulated as a credit, or a certainpercent of the medals 4 to be dispensed to the player may be accumulatedin a predetermined place (in an accumulating apparatus, for example) soas to be dispensed at once to the player with a certain timing.

In addition, the medals 4 may be dispensed as a coupon or an account.

Further, while "medal" is used as the disk in the above-mentionedembodiment, any circular object such as token or coin can be adoptedsimilarly.

Also, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the kind of bonus is determinedimmediately after the medal 4 comes into contact with one of the jackpotdetecting sections 24, whereby the pusher 8 is actuated. Nevertheless, aguide rail for medals which guides the medal 4 from the guiding board 16to the proximity of the chute 6 on the game board 2 may be disposedabove the game board 2. With this arrangement, the medal 4 passingthrough the guide rail is detected by a medal passage detector attachedto the guide rail. In this case, the apparatus may be of a roulette typein which the kind of bonus is selected by means of a roulette on thebasis of the detection signal of the medal passage detector, so as toactuate the pusher 8 according to thus selected bonus.

Further, though three kinds of jackpot detecting sections 24 areprovided in the above-mentioned embodiment, they may be any number ofkinds, and their number should not be restricted to that in theabove-mentioned embodiment. For example, when only the jackpot detectingsections 24 for the big hit are provided, two kinds of strokes aresufficient therefor.

Also, while a microswitch is used as the jackpot detecting section, anyother type of devices may be used as long as the medals can be detectedthereby. For example, such devices as optical sensor and magnetic sensorcan be used.

Further, though a linear motor is used as the pusher driving section 40,driving means of cam type and gear type can also be used as long astheir strokes are variable.

Also, the medal supplement mechanism 51 should not be restricted to thatof the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, a change dispenser for avending machine, a medal dispenser for a slot machine, and the like maybe used to supplement the medals 4. Such a medal supplement mechanismcan determine the number of medals 4 to be supplemented in response tothe kind of jackpot detecting section before supplementing the medals 4.

As explained in the foregoing, in accordance with the present invention,when the inserted medal comes into contact with the jackpot detectingsection, a greater stroke is imparted to the reciprocating pusher as abonus. As a result, a larger number of medals on the game board dropinto the chute, whereby the player can acquire a greater number ofmedals. By chance, the pusher moves to the front end portion of the gameboard, whereby the player can acquire all the medals existing on thegame board. Further, when the number of medals on the game board hasdecreased due to the bonus imparted to the player, medals aresupplemented by the medal supplement mechanism. Consequently, a new gamescene is presented, whereby the player can expect a new development inthe game.

Thus, the present invention can provide the game with unexpectedness,giving much stronger impact on players.

From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that the inventionmay be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

The basic Japanese Application No. 209785/1995 filed on Aug. 17, 1995 ishereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pusher game apparatus comprising:a diskinsertion slot into which a disk is inserted; a guiding means forguiding downwardly the disk inserted into said disk insertion slot; agame board disposed substantially horizontally below said guiding meansso as to receive the disk dropped from said guiding means; a dischargingmeans disposed on at least one end side of said game board fordischarging the disk out of said pusher game apparatus; a pusherdisposed slidably on said game board and movable reciprocally toward andaway from the one end of said game board; at least one jackpot detectingsection for detecting the disk dropped from said guiding means; acontrol means for selecting a stroke of said pusher based on a detectionsignal transmitted from said jackpot detecting section upon detectingthe disk and for transmitting a control signal based on the thusselected stroke; and a driving means for driving said pusher capable ofchanging the reciprocal stroke of said pusher based on the controlsignal from said control means.
 2. A pusher game apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said control means transmits the control signal suchthat the stroke of said pusher becomes greater when the disk is detectedby said jackpot detecting section than when no disk is detected thereby.3. A pusher game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adisk supplement mechanism for supplementing the disk onto said gameboard, wherein said disk supplement mechanism comprises a pocket foraccumulating the disk, a slant plate which is adapted to move upward anddownward within the pocket and is inclined such that a part thereofnearer to said game board is disposed lower, and an elevator mechanismfor moving the slant plate upward and downward within said pocket.
 4. Apusher game apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control meansactuates said disk supplement mechanism based on the detection signalfrom said jackpot detecting section.
 5. A pusher game apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said control means actuates said disksupplement mechanism a predetermined time after the detection signalfrom said jackpot detecting section is received.
 6. A pusher gameapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stroke of said pusher isdetermined beforehand according to a kind of jackpot detecting section.